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According to the priorities of the government program and its strategy to activate aspects of scientific research, and to clarify the harmful effects of drug and psychotropic substance addiction and work to prevent and combat them, the College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, discussed on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, a master's thesis in the specialty of clinical biochemistry entitled "The harmful effects of methamphetamine addiction on the heart using endothelin-1 and sodium, potassium, and calcium levels as indicators" by the student Nawres Anwer Abdulatheem. The study aims to measure the levels of endothelin-1 and electrolytes Na+, K+, Ca2+ in the serum taken from methamphetamine addicts, heart patients, and healthy individuals, in addition to measuring heart rate and blood pressure, and performing an electrocardiogram for each of the participants and comparing the results between the groups. The study concluded that methamphetamine addiction in Iraq has become a major health crisis that can cause electrolyte imbalance, including increased levels of calcium (Ca2+) and potassium (K+), while sodium (Na+) levels may remain within the lower limit of normal. It also confirmed that methamphetamine may cause increased levels of endothelin-1 in the blood, which is a strong vasoconstrictor, leading to damage to the inner lining of blood vessels, and thus heart disease resulting from ischemic heart disease and high blood pressure. Long-term methamphetamine addiction may lead to permanent damage to various body systems. The master's thesis was approved with distinction.

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